MAP: GENDERGAPRANKINGS

ITALY

Italy, 69th in the list, is struggling partly because of its score for women’s involvement in politics.

The WEF, which says Italy has a 75 percent gap to make up in this area, looked at the number of women in its parliament and ministerial positions. Countries also scored points if they have had a female head of state over the last half-a-century.

Italy’s economic score dropped in 2014, compared with a year earlier. It scores particularly poorly in the “wage equality for similar work” category, where it’s ranked 129th globally.

ICELAND

Iceland, top of the index since 2009, has eradicated gender gaps in education and it’s close to doing so in health, too, according to the report.

It tops the global index in terms of women’s participation in politics, helped by having a female prime minister for 20 of the past 50 years.

Meanwhile, nearly 40 percent of Iceland’s lower parliament is taken up by women. They are given a help into politics by political parties who employ a quota system for females.

UNITEDKINGDOM

The United Kingdom, which has dropped eight places compared with 2013, has a low score for women’s empowerment in politics.

Just over one-in-five MPs are female, according to IPU, who rank the UK 64th globally.

David Cameron has just five women in his cabinet, but the UK’s ranking will have been helped by the reign ofMargaret Thatcher, the country’s first and only female prime minister.

ELSEWHERE IN THEEUROPEANUNION

The statement released alongside the report, analysing Europe, said: “Of the region’s major economies, Germany climbs two places to 12th, France leaps from 45th to 16th, while the UK falls eight places to 26th.

“France’s gain is mostly due to increases in the number of women in politics, including 49% women ministers – one of the highest ratios in the world, and narrowing wage gaps. The UK’s lower position can be mainly attributed to changes in income estimates.”

ELSEWHERE IN THEWORLD

The United States came 20th in the rankings, China 87 and India 114.

Chad, Pakistan and Yemen were bottom.

The Phillipinnes is Asia’s highest ranking country.

Kuwait is the highest ranking Arab country.

Report author Saadia Zahidi said: “We’re trying to see if women have the same rights and opportunities as men regardless of whether they are in rich or poor countries.

“People and their talents is the key resource that drives most economies but the benefits of gender equality go beyond the economic case. Women are one half of the world’s population. They deserve equal access to health, education, earning potential and political empowerment because ultimately gender equality is a vital part of human progress.”